A disabled person who displays a disabled license plate or placard hanging from their mirror, may park in any “normal” stall for FREE.

A disabled person who parks in a stall designated for the disabled which displays a “blue sticker” and “4- hours only,” may only park there for FREE for 4 hours. Parking at the blue stickered meter beyond the 4 hours requires paying a normal parking fee. The driver may, however, move the car to another stall.

State law requires eligible Spokane drivers to visit a doctor and receive a note on his official letterhead, before visiting the licensing office to obtain a disabled parking placard, tab or license plate. This law prevents people from forging paperwork to receive disabled privileges, or who use placards and plates of relatives or acquaintances to obtain prime parking spots. NOTE: Obtaining disabled parking credentials through fraudulent means is now a misdemeanor offense with penalties up to a 90-day jail sentence and fine of $1,000.

Disabled motorists, either seeking credentials for the first time or renewing them, now must submit the same paperwork under state law. They need:

A completed application from the Washington Department of Licensing.

A signed prescription, or note on official letterhead, from a licensed physician. The doctor has to write a prescription every time someone wants a renewal. Those eligible for renewal will continue to receive notices in the mail, but will be required to submit the prescription or note with their application. The new red parking placard is good for up to a year.

The law does not change the legal definition of a disabled driver. Those motorists who generally cannot walk for more than 200 feet without assistance may apply for permits. Permanent placards will continue to be issued for a 5-year period, with motorists needing to visit their doctor when that time is up. The state law also does not affect local parking laws, which allow disabled motorists to park for free at selected parking meters for several hours.

Drivers can submit the paperwork to the auditor's office in the Spokane County Courthouse, which is open from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm on Friday. Drivers also can take the paperwork to one of 9 contracted auto license agencies in the county to obtain disabled parking credentials. The list and hours is on the auditor's website: http://www.spokanecounty.org/auditor

Effective July 1, 2015. (Doctor's note now required for disabled parking privileges, by Kip Hill, The Spokesman-Review, July 8, 2015, and Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton)

Spokane Transit Authority's Paratransit Service

STA Paratransit Services (Elderly and Disabled)(509) 328-1552Request, cancel or check on a ride.

Paratransit Eligibility: Providing free assessments of Paratransit eligibility, determined through an application process that includes a physical and cognitive assessment. Paratransit applications are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days. Recertification of eligibility will occur periodically.

Paratransit is a wheelchair-accessible
shared ride transportation service for individuals whose disability
prevents them from using the regular fixed route buses. This means that a
person must be unable, because of a disability, to get to or from the
bus stop, get on or off a lift or ramp equipped bus, or successfully
travel by bus to or from the destination.

Spokane Transit
Authority will take persons who qualify anywhere in the Spokane area
at a very reasonable fee—which is $1.75/ride. The fare will increase to $2.00 July 1, 2018.

Service Area: All
Paratransit trips must begin and end within the Paratransit Service
Area. At present, this includes most of the areas in the cities of
Cheney, Medical Lake, Airway Heights, Liberty Lake, Millwood, Spokane,
and Spokane Valley. Fairchild Air Force Base and Spokane International
Airport also are served.

Who is eligible for paratransit service? Eligibility
is based on limitations to an individual's abilities, not just the
presence of a disability. Age or the inability to drive are not
qualifying factors in and of themselves. All of Spokane Transit’s
regular buses are fully accessible and equipped with ramps in order to
board passengers who use wheelchairs.

An application for service is required (before using this service).
The application includes a section for verification of your disability
from a licensed medical or mental health professional. It is necessary
to complete an application form if you wish to use the paratransit vans.
You may obtain an application by downloading here, calling (509) 328-1552
(Relay 711), or by writing to:

Providing free
assessments of paratransit eligibility, determined through an
application process that includes a physical or cognitive assessment.Paratransit Applications are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days. Recertification of eligibility will occur periodically.

Mobility Mentor Program helps seniors and people with disabilities learn to confidently ride the bus. Two types of mentoring services are available: One-On-One and Travel Club. You can also be a Mobility Mentor leading group bus trips or providing individual training to help people gain the skills needed to independently ride the bus. http://www.spokanetransit.com/ride-sta/mobility-mentor-program

Questions?If
you have any questions about this application or about paratransit
service, please contact Paratransit Services at (509) 328-1552, TDD
(509) 328-1552, Relay 711. Representatives are available 7 days a week, including
holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also send an e-mail to kgibbons@spokanetransit.com.

Disabled American Veterans - Chapter 6212 S. David St.Spokane, WA 99212(509) 535-9100http://dav6.org/about-us/Volunteer
drivers transport veterans to and from appointments at the
Mann-Grandstaff Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Spokane, and as far
away as Lewiston and Libby, Montana.